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Take 5: On the Job Meditations With St. Ignatius

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Take Five: Meditations With John Henry Newman

As the mother of four young adult children, including one still in college, I am constantly seeking spiritual material succinct enough to fit into their busy schedules but powerful enough to inspire them on their journeys. Five minutes a day is all that is needed to empower all who read this thought-provoking and very complete collection of reflections that provide the most essential food for the spirit. While most of John Henry Newman's writings may not be addressed to the general public, this soon-to-be beatified man's work should be more widely known. This compilation of Newman's reflections combined with key scripture verses is accessible to all readers. Every one of the 76 meditations are special, but the ones that my own children liked best were: "The Soul's Happiness" (mere knowledge kindles no love); "The World Is Too Small to Satisfy Us" (reminding our children that in an overly materialistic world, only God can satisfy our deepest longings); "Check Your Emotions" (Newman urges the use of reason to take prayerful control of our passions and emotions); "What Are You Looking For" (seeking only wealth, power, pleasure or comfort will never fully satisfy our spirit that yearns to know Christ); and "Life Without God" (helping others to know God's joy and grace while not allowing dark corners in our lives to remain without the light of the Spirit). The "Think About It" section at the end of each meditation challenges the reader to quietly and prayerfully seek God's response in their own souls. I will encourage each of my children to begin the day with one of Newman's kernels of wisdom, confident that those few minutes in prayerful reflection will initiate a conversation with God and sustain them all day long. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all parents as a powerful and effective tool in guiding our children (and us) to resist all that is negative in the world and replace it with God's light shining through them. I thank God for the authors who edited Cardinal Newman's texts providing us with an anointed book that brings to life the best of a future saint.

"There is a time to put direct inquiry on hold and give ourselves to prayer and practical duties." Sound advice from one of the earlier, thought-provoking reminders in this sparkling gem of a book: Take Five | Meditations with John Henry Newman, written by Mike Aquilina and Fr. Juan R. Vélez and published by Our Sunday Visitor. This particular paragraph, referenced above, which begins with a direct quote from soon-to-be canonized priest, cardinal and poet, John Henry Newman: "Study is good, but it gets us only so far . . ." is actually the 15th in a series of 76 concise, logically organized meditations moving from the elementary to the sublime. Each meditation--one per page--is built upon the great man's writings and remarkably rich spirituality. Whether taken whole in one reading or in part page-by-page over a course of weeks and months, these wonderfully insightful meditations will open up, even to the busiest reader in the midst of the world, a unique pathway into prayer and contemplation. My advice to spiritual inquirers at all levels, from the novice to the spiritually adept, is to follow the authors' recommendation to use this book as a guide for daily prayer and meditation. The structure of the book itself is ideal: first, the authors introduce us to Cardinal Newman, the man, where we are given the opportunity to get to know him through a brief sketch of his life and spirituality at the beginning of the book. This is something readers will likely find themselves referring to again and again, prompting many, I suspect, to even wider explorations of this most gifted Christian leader. Then comes the meditations, consisting of a short summary of Newman's thoughts on subjects taken, as the authors explain, from various salient points for which Newman is justly remembered: The pursuit of objective religious truth; Teaching on the Virtues; Defense of the Catholic Church; A devout spiritual and moral life; and Generosity and loyalty in his friendships, which sets the topic and tone for each meditation to follow. Each meditation consists of an excerpt taken from Newman's thirty-plus volumes of writings and diaries. Next comes three brief and extremely useful sections entitled: "Think About It," which establishes a prayerfully resonant tone throughout the book; "Just Imagine," which provides a vivid, prayerful experience of the Scriptures that tie in, and finally, "Remember," a pithy summation which the authors suggest may be used as a daily aspiration. Each meditation is given its own page, which makes it ideal for daily reflection for readers on the go. This book is a must have for every serious Catholic who wants to take their faith to the next level, which is to respond appropriately to the universal call to holiness and seek interior union with God.

John Cardinal Henry Newman was a convert to Catholicism. I too am a convert from a zealous Protestantism to Our Beautiful Catholic Faith. I read several of his books on my journey into the Catholic Church (Development of Doctrine and Apologia Pro Vita Sua). This little pocket-sized book of meditations will help me pray with a Saint. I am so excited already even though I have only started to read it.

This is a great little book that I keep in my brief case. I can pull it out at work, when I'm stuck in traffic, etc.

It literally takes less than 5 minutes to read each meditation but you can ponder them for minutes, hours or days! As a person in recovery (i.e. 12-step program) this makes a great tool since the 12-Step program(s) and The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius that this little gem draws from are so similar!

Looking for a new and different approach to the 11th step? Need some help getting started in prayer and meditiation? Pick up this book that you can carry in your brief case, glove compartment, backpack or back pocket! You won't regret it.

I really enjoy this little book, the daily reading selections are short enough that the "Take Five" title is very much appropriate. Though my "career" consists of being a stay-at-home mom raising young boys, the meditations are still applicable to my daily life in so many way. In places where the book mentions co-workers it is quite simple to substitute in my husband, children, relatives, neighbors or friends. I find the short meditations to be a great way to start my morning before the chaos of the day begins, and often find myself reflecting back on the mediations throughout the day. I'd highly recommend to anyone wanting to apply St Ignatius' teachings to their daily life.

Many of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work. However, this doesn't mean we don't have time to be ministers for Christ. Opening your heart to God in the workplace can take your spiritual journey to the next level. Before reading this book I felt like a weekend warrior, volunteering, praying, and attending service only two days out of the week. I didn't allow the ways in which God touched my heart to be present in the workplace. I did what was necessary to earn a living while acting in a professional manner. Unfortunately, I wasn't asking God to lead me through my daily struggles.

This book can bring purpose into the routine of daily life. By reminding us to offer up every task the reader can grow closer to God and improve efficiency. St. Ignatius offers theologically sound advice and reflections that will bring deeper meaning to your job in five minutes or less. If I can read mine on the trading floor of a large NY financial firm, there is no reason to be ashamed to pull this out for a few minutes. Coworkers will respect you and maybe take an interest. Bringing Christianity into work is the best solution for the financial crisis and this book is the easiest method I've found.

Nice pocket volume as brief daily thoughts and insightful meditations based on the writings of Blessed John Newman, famous Catholic convert from Anglicanism from Oxford in England.

Blessed John Henry Newman should be a doctor of the church. His thoughts are clear and concise and applicable for the times we live in. I am completely won over by him.

I approached "Take Five: Meditations with John Henry Newman" knowing very little about this recently beatified Cardinal. I finished it wanting to know much more. Cardinal Newman was a "teacher, editor, administrator, and clergyman - and he still found time enough to write books that have been profoundly influential in the fields of theology, philosophy, history, and fiction." "Take Five" begins with a short biography of Newman's life, from his education and life as an Anglican to the reasons for his very public conversion to Catholicism. It then offers 76 short reflections. Each one features a short excerpt from Newman's work that focuses on a given theme. A few key points are highlighted in "Think About It" which is followed by a quote or two from scripture and a take-away statement to remember.

Newman's wisdom focuses on how to incorporate faith into everyday life. His words ring true and are very relevant over a hundred years after his death. This little book provides much food for reflection and offers a wonderful introduction to Newman's thought.